NetOne launches OneMoney platform in Bulawayo

STATE-OWNED mobile telecommunication operator, NetOne, has extended its mobile money service campaign to Bulawayo with the launch of its OneMoney platform set for today.

NetOne, which is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, has rebranded its OneWallet platform to OneMoney, which can be linked to any ZimSwitch linked debit card.

NetOne acting chief executive officer (CEO) Mr Brian Mutandiro said they have adopted a model used by Kenya's Safaricom mobile money M-pesa and would do a pre-launch of the new product at Sekusile Shops in Nkulumane.

"To show you that we have indeed improved from OneWallet platform, we have put in place a great platform that we are now using. It is the same platform used by Safaricom for M-pesa. M-pesa is one of the success stories when it comes to mobile money. It is the same similar platform we are riding on," he said.

"We will be launching in Bulawayo on the 10th of November. On that particular day we are actually starting with an activity at Sekusile Shops in Nkulumane. We will have our pre-launch activities there starting from 11AM to 4PM. We are calling for people of Bulawayo to come as we will be telling people about OneMoney and also getting feedback from our customers."

He told Business Chronicle that customers would see the value of this platform as they would offer lower transactions. In comparison with other mobile money service providers OneMoney charges as little as $0.05 per transaction, Telecash is $0.11 the same amount that Ecocash charges when transacting to registered numbers. Mr Mutandiro said before year end their target was to cover all the five zones in the region as they have done with Zone 1 (Harare).

He also said their OneFusion product has helped increase subscribers by over 500 000. NetOne has launched six new products as it seeks to transform itself from being a mobile service provider to an all-round telecommunications outfit that offers voice, video, Internet, mobility, iptv and other applications. The products include Khuluma 24/7, OneRadio, One-Fi and OneCliq, OneCover and One Tech.